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Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3022, 26 November 1891, Page 2

Somk time has elapsed since mule petroleum was discovoied in tho Waiotapu Yalloy, Kotorua, aud as a company is now being formed to work this deposit, the following intorosting particulars will give some idea of tho enormous dimeiisioua to which tho petroleum Irade has grown in America,. Tho busiuesa has expaudod rapidly during tho last few years owing to tho improved mothod of transporting thu oil. This ia to u vory lurgo extent carried iu oil tank stuamors. Thiu method of carrying roh'uod oil from oue part of the world, where it is prepared from the crude sUilej to the other part, when: it ia tinally distributed, has in less than four vears completely n'-viilutionismt this industry. Not that tank .iteiiiiiers have driven the barrel uliip's out of the business, uv even .seriously all'ceted their trade, but the oil traffic with foreign countries hu.s incroiustid enormously sinco tho " tankers " have come into general use. Tho following interesting facts were given by one of tin; officers of tho Atlantic Refining Company, a company which liandh-d no less than two hundred unci fifty millions gallons of crude oil since January last. He said, we refine 800,000 gallons of oil on an average each day. One hundred thousand gallons stay at homn for domostio purposes. Tho remaining 700,000 gallons go abroad. Tho tankers c»rry away nearly "iOO,OOO gallons of this export. Upwards of i.'33,0U0 are stowed daily in barrels to ship away. About 123,000 gallons are packed in tin casi-s and shipped to th" warm countries. It is a curious fact, hut oil will not stay in burrca ;>-, ti><r "■■■K'a o'jn-a'V:- It "-ill ru'j

out, l)c:twcf!ii tin: spams and lie lost. I litnels do for cold countries. Tin: r i-i" siiipiiif:nts an , packed in live cans. TliM fuivyning figures £i\r s;inii) faint ideas of tho magnitude of this industry iu America, !?t '.'.2 hope that tho discovery at W'aiotapu may prove a valuable ono and that tin: proprietors may (•itj long he enabled to secure a largo share of tho oil trade in the Australian colonics.